Roller bearing retainer

ABSTRACT

Roller-bearing retainer rings are described wherein lubricating concavities are formed in the sides rimming roller element pockets. An economical machining method of manufacturing such retainer rings is described wherein the roller pockets and lubrication concavities are conveniently machine formed simultaneously with radially recessed roller supports.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James L. Vannest New Britain, Conn. [211 App], No. 778,684 [22] Filed Nov. 25, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 21, 1971 [73] Assignee Textron Inc.

Providence, R.I.

[54] ROLLER BEARING RETAINER 6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 308/217 [51] Int. Cl. F161. 33/46 [50] Field ofSearch 308/217, 212, 2 I 3 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,657,106 10/1953 Lovell et a1. 308/217 2,884,288 4/1959 Hermann et al 308/213 3,014,769 12/1961 Gales 308/213 3,450,449 6/1969 Sibley et a1. 308/201 FOREIGN PATENTS 296,217 8/1928 Great Britain 308/217 Primary Examiner- Fred C. Mattel-n, J r. Assistant Examiner-Frank Susko Artomey-Hopgood and Calimafde ABSTRACT: Roller-bearing retainer rings are described wherein lubricating concavities are formed in the sides rimming roller element pockets. An economical machining method of manufacturing such retainer rings is described wherein the roller pockets and lubrication concavities are conveniently machine formed simultaneously with radially recessed roller supports.

ROLLER BEARING RETAINER In the US Pats. to Potter Nos. 3,027,206 and 3,026,601, a ball bearing retainer ring and method of making same are described. In these patents, the retainer ring is provided with outwardly extending tabs which are, after insertion of balls in the ring pockets, bent over to radially retain bearing balls. As described in these patents, the ball pockets are first drilled and subsequently reamed out with a cherry reamer to form generally spherical seats in the inwardly directed partitions between the pockets to permit the balls to rest in generally spherical seats.

In the use of high-speed roller elements it is important that adequate lubricating oil be provided at the operating speeds of the bearing. Consequently, special provisions must be included in the retainer ring to assure that lubricating oil may freely pass from a radially inner side of the retainer ring to a radially outer side without depending upon the usual clearance between the roller and sides of the pocket in the retainer ring.

Furthermore, it is highly desirable that the retainer ring be well balanced to provide a smooth-running high-speed bearing. Deformation of portions of the retainer ring, such as the bending of tabs, introduces slight imbalances which are difficult to compensate for and reduce the operating life of the entire bearing.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a wellbalanced roller bearing retainer ring.

It is also an object to provide a retainer of the character indicated which is entirely premachined and which is not subjected to permanent deformation when assembled to other bearing components, where by it is possible to avoid the fragmentation which is sometimes associated with permanently deformed retainer parts.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a retainer ring for a roller bearing wherein lubricating passages are conveniently included.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide a simplified method of making a retainer ring of the character described.

These objects are accomplished by my invention which is described in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an assembled roller bearing incorporating a retainer ring of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pocket in the retainer ring of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a retainer ring blank used in the invention, the section being taken in a plane which includes the axis of the ring;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are similar cross-sectional views, respectively illustrating a first drilling step, a final drilling step, and a breaching step used in the formation of the retainer ring of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary perspective views of a portion of the pocket formation, respectively corresponding to the situations depicted in FIGS. 4 and FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 to illustrate an alternative construction;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pocket in the retainer ring of FIG. 9;

FIGS. ll, 12, 13 and 14 are views similar to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, but for the construction of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 15 is a simplified end view, partly in section, to illustrate a broach which may be used in the method of the invention.

Briefly. stated, my invention contemplates forming rectangular pockets in a retainer ring for a roller bearing, at least two opposed faces of the rims of the pockets being provided with concavities for the carrying of lubricating oil. The formation of the pockets and the concavities may be carried out simultaneously with the formation of integral radially projecting roller element supports which are locally yieldable, without permanent deformation, to assist in assembly of a bearing but which, in the ultimate bearing assembly, clear the rollers and are therefore not involved in bearing operation.

In FIG. 1 a portion of a roller bearing 10 is shown with an outer race ring 12, an inner race ring 14, antifriction roller elements 16-16 and a roller retainer ring 18. The inner race ring 14 has an outer race surface 20 which is straight cylindrical. The outer race ring 12 is provided with a raceway 22 on its inner surface. This raceway 22 is recessed and is flanked by a pair of annular inwardly projecting flanges 24-24, one of which 24 is visible in the view of FIG. 1. The rollers such as 16-16 run along the race surfaces 20-22 and are retained in rectangular pockets 26-26 formed in the retainer ring 18. Plural rectangular pockets are uniformly distributed about the outer periphery of the ring 18.

The body of retainer ring 18 may pilot directly on flanges 24-24 or it may be formed with circumferential side rails, rims of flanges to pilot on the other bearing ring 14. In the form shown, retainer piloting is on the outer race ring 12, using integral side rims of flanges; thus a lubricant-channeling, manifolding or reservoir function is achieved by the annular space between piloting rims.

The retainer ring 18 is thus provided with a pair of outwardly projecting annular side rails or rims 28-28' located at axial ends of the ring 18 opposite the annular lands of the outer race ring 12. One of the rims 28 is visible in the view of FIG. 1. The annular rims fit with radial clearance in coplanar concentric relationship with flanges 24-24 of the outer race ring 12 to pilot or centrally position the retainer ring 18.

A plurality of tabs 30, shown in section in FIG. 1, project radially inwardly. The tabs 30 terminate radially inwardly short of the race surface 20 of the inner ring 14, and piloting at 24-28 assures that tabs will clear race 20 during operation of the bearing. The tabs 30 are uniformly spaced at angular locations adjacent the pockets 26-26 and are located substantially midway between the axial ends of the ring 18. Each tab 30 has a pair of lips 32-32 respectively projecting under adjacent pockets 26-26'. Each pocket 26 is provided with a pair of lips 32-32 which project toward each other across a pocket 26 to partially constrict the pocket opening and thus provide recessed support for the rollers during assembly of the bearing 10. For a given roller pocket 26, the opposed faces 29-29" of these lips 32-32 are spaced from one another by a distance which is slightly less than the diameter of a roller, so that rollers such as 16 may be'inserted into the pocket 26 from the radially inner side of the retainer ring 18. A slight temporary resilient deformation of the tabs will occur to permit the passage of the roller, but the interference is so slight that there is neither injury to the roller surfaces nor permanent deformation of the tabs 30. Once inserted, the rollers are loosely retained with ample clearance with respect to lips 32-32"; the preassembly of rollers, retainer and outer ring 12 is unithandling.

Each of the rectangular pockets 26 is further provided with concavities such as 34-34'. These concavities are formed in sides of the rectangular pocket and extend from the radially outer surface of the retainer ring to its radially inner surface 38. The concavities 34-34 are located substantially midway between the axial ends of the retainer ring and provide lubricating passages during operating of the bearing, serving to channel an ample and symmetrical supply of lubricant at the region of greatest bearing load.

In addition to the lubricating passages 34-34' for the loadsustaining bearing surfaces, I provide further lubricating passages 35-35 for the respective end faces of each roller. The passages 35-35 extend radially, for the central thickness of the retainer section, and all passages 34-34' and 35-35 for a given pocket 26 are afforded manifolding communication with the annular lubricant-accummulating region defined between shoulders or rims 28-28. The manifolding action applies as between the lubricating passages of a given pocket (26) and also as between the lubricating passages of adjacent pockets (26-26 for the annular extent of the retainer.

In making the retainer ring 18 of FIG. 1, a ring blank 43 is formed with a cross section as in FIG. 3. This ring blank may be made from tubular stock which is machined to the desired shape, with the two annular rims or shoulders 28-28 located at axial ends of the ring and protruding radially outwardly. An inwardly projecting continuous annular rib 44 is formed substantially midway between the rims 28-28. The rib 44 provides body material for later formation of the tabs 30 therefrom.

FIG. 4 illustrates a next step, wherein plurality of pilot bores are drilled at circumferentially uniformly distributed and axially centered locations. in FIG. 4, the pilot bore 46 is formed by passing the drill radially inwardly entirely through the ring blank 43 so that the inwardly projecting rib 44 is severed at the angularly spaced pilot bore locations. A small arcuate edge portion of a severed rib, due to the drill operation described in connection with FIG. 4, is shown remaining at 48 in FIGS. and 7.

After the required plurality of pilot bores 46 has been drilled in the ring blank 43, a radially inward final drilling step is performed, to define a counterbore 50 concentric with each of the bores 46. A drill is selected with a diameter that exceeds the length of a side of the rectangular roller pocket 26, but which at the same time is preferably less than the total span D between adjacent inner walls of rims or shoulders 28-28 (FIG. 5). The depth of counterbore 50 is carefully controlled to terminate at 52, radially inwardly of the locus of roller centers and of the inner surface of rib 44, but short of the innermost extreme of the tabs 30. The tip of the drill has the normal conical shape and therefore fonns the surface 54 at the inner limit of the counterbore 50.

It will be understood that the two drilling steps may be performed in a single operation, using a single drill having the required two-step profile to generate the described bore and counterbore surface.

After final drilling a two-step broach is applied to cut rectangular swaths on the axis of each pocket-bore axis. The larger step of the broach has opposed pairs of rectilinear sides 40-40 and 42-42, respectively spanning, with small clearance, length and diameter dimensions of the rollers, but slightly smaller than the diameter of the final-drill bore 50. The smaller step of the broach is defined by a pair of sides with the reduced spacing S, to generate the parallel lip surfaces 29-29". Thus, for the case of a square-shaped pocket 26, the two-step broach generates square cuts; its concentric radially inward application to ring 18 at each bore 50 leaves equally sized concavities or lubricant passages 34-J34-3535 at the midportion of each of the sides 4040-42-42.

The two-step broach is carefully applied to the bore 50, and the depth of cut of the larger step is terminated in the vicinity of the bottom 52 of the final bore 50. The smaller step is straight-sided and cuts away a portion of the lip 32 to form the parallel opposed surfaces 29-29". FIG. 8, which is from the perspective aspect of FIG. 7, illustrates that both the shape of the tab 30 and the rectangular pocket contour are defined by a single limited inward stroke of the two-step broach.

In situations where the roller is axially longer than its diameter, the broach will be rectangular and not square, In such case, the final-drill diameter is selected to be slightly larger than the diameter of the roller but smaller than the axial length of the roller. Lubrication is then assured through the concavities formed along the pocket side walls 42-42 which guide the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers 16.

FIGS. 9 to 14 illustrate a modification in which a preassembly is formed with an inner-race ring 60. The preassembly involves rollers, laterally retained between outwardly extending side flanges 62 which border the grooved raceway 63, the rollers being loosely retained by projecting lips 64-64" at each opening (such as the pocket opening 65) in a retainer 66. This preassembly is unit handling, for later inserted assembly in the race bore 67 of an outer bearing member or ring 68.

As with the form of FIGS. 1 to 8, the pocket openings 65 of the form of FIGS. 9 to 14- may be rectangular, in conformance with the longitudinal sectional profile of the rollers 61, and like lubricant cusps 69-69 and 70-70 may be formed in opposed pairs of sides 71-71 and 72-72 of each pocket opening. Integral tabs 73 project radially outwardly to position oppositely directed pairs of lips 64-454, for roller retention during preassembly and assembly. Side rims or flanges 74-74 are integral with the retainer ring 66 and project radially for free piloting clearance relation with the inner ring flanges 62. The span S characterizes the spacing between opposed lips 64-64" at any given pocket opening, such span being slightly less than the roller diameter, to permit transient resilient (but not permanent) deformation of the projections or tabs 73 during roller assembly, as a radially inward snap-in of each roller 61.

FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate successive steps in a method of making the retainer 66, commencing in FIG. II with a ring blank having an annular body 75 with an integral and generally centrally located radially outward rib 76, between the side flanges or rims 74-74. In a first drill step (F IO. 12), a reduced bore 77 is defined at successive radially directed axes which are uniformly spaced over the circumferential extent of ring 66. A small part 77 of this first bore remains at the projecting limit of rib 76 when the second or counterboring step is performed (FIG. 13) to define the counterbore 78. If a radially outward drill is used to form counterbore 78, its conical tip will define a small conical transition 79 at the counterbore limit, adjacent the small projecting remainder 77 of bore 77. Thereafter, a two-stage radial broaching operation is used to define (a) the rectangular roller-locating corners of the pocket opening and (b) the slabbed-off flat faces of each pair of opposed retaining lips 64-64", all as identified in FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 further illustrates the broaching operation, in terms of tool considerations. The broach of FIG. 15 will be understood to be elongated and to have a stem 80 for manipulating purposes. To form the desired rectangular profile the initial broaching teeth are suggested by dashed outline 81, for containment within the circular contour of the counterbore 78, also suggested by dashed outline. Opposed piloting grooves 82-83 extend as channel along the effective broaching length, for guided retention along sidewalls (as at 84, FIG. 10) of the tabs 73. The broach tooth profile enlarges with succeeding teeth, to a final cut profile 85, shown in solid lines in FIG. 15. The broach cut for any single pocket maybe performed by a succession of progressively larger tools to cover the contour cut range between 81 and 85, in which event the second-stage cut at 6M4" may be achieved by suitable teeth incorporated at the final-cutting end of the last such too]. On the other hand, for a retainer which is to incorporate an even number of roller pockets 65, a single elongated broach tool (as described for FIG. 15) may be employed in each cutting stroke to define the respective rectangular contours of each pair of diametrically opposed pockets; in such event, all pockets are defined by a number of broach strokes which is half the number of pockets, and the final-broach slaboff at 64-64" is a secondary operation.

The retainer rings as thus described are entirely machined to a finished state and exhibit excellent balance, whether the ring is of the FIG. I or FIG. 9 variety. The easily controllable steps required to provide such a high-quality retainer ring permit the manufacture of long-lasting, economical high-speed roller bearings. No permanent deformation is required of any parts, in order to produce a unit-handling assembly of rollers, retainer and outer ring.

In addition, it is noted that upon final-broaching to form surfaces 29-29" (FIG. 1) or 64-454 (FIG. 9), there are inherently produced, at the axial extremes of intersection of each of these surfaces (29; 64) with the adjacent conical surface (54; 79), two axially spaced points of support for an inserted roll. Thus, for each roller pocket, there are four points of roller support, at such generous axial spacing as to provide roller-axis stability and to thereby avoid angularly cocking rolls prior to assembly to the inner ring or shaft 14, or to the outer member or ring 68, as the case may be.

' While the invention has been described in considerable detail and preferred forms are illustrated, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A roller-bearing retainer ring comprising a circumferentially continuous cylindrical annulus having a plurality of angularly spaced pockets to receive rollers of a given diameter, said annulus being of a section characterized by a body portion having a radially projecting rib at an axially central location, said body portion having at each pocket location a cylindrical bore extending radially completely through said body portion to an extent short of the radially projecting limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations to generally conform to and clear the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, whereby cylindrically arcuate lubricant passages are presented at opposed faces of the pocket opening, the radially projecting part of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to an extent slightly less than the roller diameter, said projections being characterized by opposed parallel flat faces.

2. A roller-bearing retainer ring comprising a circumferentially continuous cylindrical annulus having a plurality of angularly spaced pockets to receive rollers of a given diameter, said annulus being of a section characterized by two like axially spaced radially extending shoulders connected by a body portion having a radially inward rib at an axially central location, said body portion having at each pocket location a cylindrical bore extending radially inwardly completely through said body portion to an extent short of the radially inner limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations to generally conform to and clear the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two opposed roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, whereby cylindrically arcuate lubricant passages are presented at the pocket opening at said opposed faces, the radially inner part of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to an extent slightly less than the roller diameter, and said projections having opposed parallel flat faces.

3. A roller-bearing retainer ring comprising a circumferentially continuous cylindrical annulus having a plurality of angularly spaced pockets to receive rollers of a given diameter, said annulus being of a section characterized by a body portion having a radially outward rib at an axially central location, said body portion having at each pocket location a cylindrical bore extending radially outwardly through said body portion to an extent short of the radially outer limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations to generally conform to and clear the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two opposed roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, whereby cylindrically arcuate lubricant passages are presented at the pocket opening at opposed faces, the radially outer part of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to an extend slightly less than the roller diameter, and said projections having opposed parallel flat surfaces.

4. A balanced unit-handling assembly of a roller-bearing race ring, a retainer ring having roller-receiving pockets: and rollers in said pockets, said race ring having a grooved cylindrical raceway between axially spaced radial shoulders facing and providing piloting support for said retainer ring, said retainer ring comprising an annular body with a radially projecting and axially centrally localized rib, said rib projecting in the radial direction away from said race ring, said body at each roller pocket having a c lindrical bore extending radially completely trough said bo y portion to an extent short of the radially projecting limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations conforming generally to and clearing the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two opposed roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, the radially projecting limit of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to a predetermined extent slightly less than the roller diameter, said projections at each pocket having opposed parallel flat surfaces, said bores being sufficiently closely adjacent that said projections are characterized by a limited degree of transiently compliant angular yielding displacement, said roller diameter exceeding said predetermined extent by an amount which is yieldably absorbed by two adjacent projections as a roller is pressed into pocket position past said two adjacent projections and without permanently deforming said projections, and a roller retained in each pocket by and between said projections and the shoulders and groove of said race ring.

5. The assembly of claim 4, in which said race ring is an outer bearing ring and in which said rib extends radially inwardly, whereby said assembly is unit-handling for bodily assembly to a shaft.

6. The assembly of claim 4, in which said race ring is an inner bearing ring and in which said rib extends radially outwardly, whereby said assembly is unit-handling for bodily assembly in the cylindrical. race bore of an outer bearing member. 

1. A roller-bearing retainer ring comprising a circumferentially continuous cylindrical annulus having a plurality of angularly spaced pockets to receive rollers of a given diameter, said annulus being of a section characterized by a body portion having a radially projecting rib at an axially central location, said body portion having at each pocket location a cylindrical bore extending radially completely through said body portion to an extent short of the radially projecting limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations to generally conform to and clear the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, whereby cylindrically arcuate lubricant passages are presented at opposed faces of the pocket opening, the radially projecting part of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to an extent slightly less than the roller diameter, said projections being characterized by opposed parallel flat faces.
 2. A roller-bearing retainer ring comprising a circumferentially continuous cylindrical annulus having a plurality of angularly spaced pockets to receive rollers of a given diameter, said annulus being of a section characterized by two like axially spaced radially extending shoulders connected by a body portion having a radially inward rib at an axially central location, said body portion having at each pocket location a cylindrical bore extenDing radially inwardly completely through said body portion to an extent short of the radially inner limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations to generally conform to and clear the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two opposed roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, whereby cylindrically arcuate lubricant passages are presented at the pocket opening at said opposed faces, the radially inner part of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to an extent slightly less than the roller diameter, and said projections having opposed parallel flat faces.
 3. A roller-bearing retainer ring comprising a circumferentially continuous cylindrical annulus having a plurality of angularly spaced pockets to receive rollers of a given diameter, said annulus being of a section characterized by a body portion having a radially outward rib at an axially central location, said body portion having at each pocket location a cylindrical bore extending radially outwardly through said body portion to an extent short of the radially outer limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations to generally conform to and clear the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two opposed roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, whereby cylindrically arcuate lubricant passages are presented at the pocket opening at opposed faces, the radially outer part of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to an extend slightly less than the roller diameter, and said projections having opposed parallel flat surfaces.
 4. A balanced unit-handling assembly of a roller-bearing race ring, a retainer ring having roller-receiving pockets, and rollers in said pockets, said race ring having a grooved cylindrical raceway between axially spaced radial shoulders facing and providing piloting support for said retainer ring, said retainer ring comprising an annular body with a radially projecting and axially centrally localized rib, said rib projecting in the radial direction away from said race ring, said body at each roller pocket having a cylindrical bore extending radially completely trough said body portion to an extent short of the radially projecting limit of said rib, said bore having local enlargements at four rectangular corner locations conforming generally to and clearing the longitudinal roller section for roller-guiding purposes, the bore diameter exceeding the roller diameter and the span between at least two opposed roller-confining faces of the rectangular corner enlargements, the radially projecting limit of the rib at each bore alignment being discontinuous and defining opposed projections spaced to a predetermined extent slightly less than the roller diameter, said projections at each pocket having opposed parallel flat surfaces, said bores being sufficiently closely adjacent that said projections are characterized by a limited degree of transiently compliant angular yielding displacement, said roller diameter exceeding said predetermined extent by an amount which is yieldably absorbed by two adjacent projections as a roller is pressed into pocket position past said two adjacent projections and without permanently deforming said projections, and a roller retained in each pocket by and between said projections and the shoulders and groove of said race ring.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, in which said race ring is an outer bearing ring and in which said rib extends radially inwardly, whereby said assembly is unit-handling for bodily assembly to a shaft.
 6. The assembly of claim 4, in which said race ring is an inner bearing ring and in which said rib extends radially outwardly, whEreby said assembly is unit-handling for bodily assembly in the cylindrical race bore of an outer bearing member. 